Cup Final - Longford the Victors

[A face]

Well has to be said the better team won. They played more football and always looked better on the ball, looked the most likely to score.

Maybe it was the ref. had a good game aswell and Pats couldn't play their "physical" game, Kelly was having none of the jersey pulling and crap that normally goes on and laid down the law early on.

Anyway ... Tthe better team won and it was another good advert for the league. I was a bit doubtful about having it in Lansdowne Road but it worked out well in the end.

Verdict : Good game !!

[patsh]

Well done Town.
The better side and played very well.
Fully deserved.

[UCD_4_Life]

No! I forgot all about it...

[Footie_Fan]

Longford fully deserved the win! Pats played with very little passion. Good move on Lansdowne. Anyone get the offical attendance? Kelly did well. Keeper should have gone though.

[A face]

Originally posted by Footie_Fan
Good move on Lansdowne. Anyone get the offical attendance?

I dunno .... anyone got a guesstimate ??

[A face]

Longford claim first FAI Cup final win


The FAI Carlsberg Cup will find a home at Flancare Park for the first time in its 81-year history after Longford Town overcame St Patrick's Athletic 2-0 in an absorbing clash at Lansdowne Road this afternoon. A first half own goal from Colm Foley and an injury-time strike from the impressive Shane Barrett sealed a deserved win for the Midlanders, who also saw a first half Barry Ferguson penalty saved. Pat's were reduced to ten men for the final quarter after Keith Fahy left 27-year-old referee Alan Kelly with no option but to dismiss him after a reckless challenge on Sean Prunty.


Read more at www.rte.ie (http://www.rte.ie/sport/2003/1026/soccer/faicup.html)

[Footie_Fan]

Originally posted by A face
I dunno .... anyone got a guesstimate ??

Both lower stands were full and there was a couple of thousand in both terraces. My guess about 15,000.

[pineapple stu]

Originally posted by Footie_Fan
Both lower stands were full and there was a couple of thousand in both terraces. My guess about 15,000.

Maybe a bit high, but not too far off I'd say. But that's still an extra 4000 or 5000 who wouldn't have gotten in otherwise. Think the Lansdowne move worked very well alright.

[pineapple stu]

Originally posted by Footie_Fan
Keeper should have gone though.

Not sure about that - there were at least two Pat's players back defending, so you could argue that it wasn't a clear goal-scoring chance. Was surprised that he wasn't at least booked though.

[Slash/ED]

Even without thinking about the crowds it's just better having it in Lansedown. It becomes a better occasion and the match seems to take on greater meaning aswell.

[Footie_Fan]

Originally posted by pineapple stu
Not sure about that - there were at least two Pat's players back defending, so you could argue that it wasn't a clear goal-scoring chance. Was surprised that he wasn't at least booked though.

Yeh your probably right. Some refs would have shown red but yellow should have been definite. Kelly did well overall though. He was right on the spot for the "tackle" for Fahey. The slow motions replys of that were sickening. It was a career ender.

[UCD_4_Life]

The highlights are on Sky Sports 1 now!

[niamh]

Was it shown on TV btw? Forgot about it yesterday but there wasn't much I could do to see it anyhow.

[UCD_4_Life]

They (Sky) are showing them again today at 4pm for anyone interested.

[TheRealRovers]

Todays star said just over 15,000 at the game

[Gary]

Just home.

What a wknd. Longford is proof that inbeeding works. thetalent there is unreal.

Great occasion, great footballing performance from Lford. Thoroughly deserved it.

Must say though, im surprised with SPA, they TOTALLY bottled it yesterday.

[Colm]

Yeah, mad weekend.

Longford was buzzing last night, great atmosphere around the place. Seriously, the amount of sexy little minxs in Blazers last night and Blue on Sat night was astonishing. Still can't remember a thing from the latter part of Sat night though!:)

As for the game itself, Longford were by far the better team. Francis was outstanding and Barrett is a really good young player.
Pats, to put it bluntly, were sh!t. I was delighted to see them beaten and even more delighted to see that all is not well in the camp, so much for their little happy family. Collins has been found out, I was so happy to see him lose yesterday and wew took plenty of oppurtunity to abuse him, much to the bewilderment of the Longford fans around us.

Weird atmosphere at the game. The Longford fans were like a typical GAA crowd and the bandwagon was definately out in force. However, in fairness they travelled in numbers and made themselves heard.
The Pats fans, although more like proper football fans, were very quiet. They did have some nice banners though and a few very small flags!;)

[James]

so what ye saying is it wasnt a bigt enough match for the 'full regalia' to make an appearance :)
pity :rolleyes:

[Éanna]

Originally posted by Colm
Yeah, mad weekend.

Longford was buzzing last night, great atmosphere around the place. Seriously, the amount of sexy little minxs in Blazers last night and Blue on Sat night was astonishing. Still can't remember a thing from the latter part of Sat night though!:)

As for the game itself, Longford were by far the better team. agree wholeheartedly :)

[Dr.Nightdub]

Originally posted by James
so what ye saying is it wasnt a bigt enough match for the 'full regalia' to make an appearance :)
pity :rolleyes:

James, every scrap of regalia was there, just the FAI refused to let us have any of it (bar the "100% Pats" and the crowd cover) in the East Stand. At one point they were trying to make us have nominated wavers for the big flags who would have to stay on the North Terrace for the whole game even though they wouldn't be allowed wave the flags. :confused:

Add in the fact that they wouldn't let the Guinness signs be covered (even though the Guinness deal is with the IRFU and the Cup is sponsored by a rival brand of beer), and the fact that they insisted on drowning out any pre-match singing by both sets of fans with some over-amplified prog-rock crap and it makes you wonder how serious they are about creating a football spectacle at all.

Mind you, none of that will stop them looking for eL fans to create an atmosphere next time Ireland are playing. They simply don't deserve us. :rolleyes:

[pineapple stu]

Originally posted by Footie_Fan
He was right on the spot for the "tackle" for Fahey. The slow motions replys of that were sickening. It was a career ender.

Yeah - didn't see that properly at the game as I was in the far side with all the Longford lads, but it was a nasty tackle close up. 'Twas a good spot alright.

[pineapple stu]

Originally posted by Dr.Nightdub
They simply don't deserve us. :rolleyes:

Are you a Cork fan in disguise?! Or just the World Sarcasm Champion?! Either way, I'd be worried...

The Pat's fans were very quiet, particularly throughout the second half when the team needed them most. And you can't blame that on not being allowed to cover up the hoardings!!!;)

[Dr.Nightdub]

Originally posted by pineapple stu
Are you a Cork fan in disguise?! Or just the World Sarcasm Champion?!...The Pat's fans were very quiet, particularly throughout the second half when the team needed them most.

Part 1 - definitely not

Part 2 - working on it

Part 3 - can't answer for the other 5000 down the way from us, but it wasn't for want of effort from those of us stuck out in the open in Block P

[A face]

The FAI Cup Final 2003

Through leaf-strewn streets, the two tribes strode
In joyful apprehension,
As both converged on Lansdowne Road
Awash with nervous tension.
Both managers were keen to stress,
And with cajoling words express
How they’d been starved of Cup success
For too long now to mention.

The gallant men from Inchicore
Were chafing at the gristle.
Forty long drawn years or more
Stung more than any thistle.
But Longford’s name had ne’er been sketched
Upon that trophy often etched,
So, with the hopes of both teams stretched,
Young Kelly blew the whistle.

With fifteen thousand roaring on,
The game took time to settle.
Though chances came and soon were gone,
The fans were in fine fettle.
Ferguson and Barrett tried
To take the lead, but were denied,
As Adamson, composed, defied
The steely Longford mettle.

The Pat’s back four were playing square,
As Prunty got possession.
Chances came, as with great flair,
He channelled his aggression.
And Longford stretched the Patrick’s backs
With many promising attacks,
Searching, probing, for the cracks
Within that opening session.

Then after half an hour it came
With Longford in the clover,
As Kirby came into the game
And played a long ball over.
Sean Francis, playing in the hole,
Turned Foley with some great control,
And shot, deflected, in the goal,
And Longford praised Jehovah.

The Pat’s defence was looking troubled
As Longford now ran riot.
The scoreline should have been soon doubled,
To keep the Pat’s fans quiet.
Murphy put Shane Barrett free,
Who got pulled down intentionally,
And Fergie took the penalty,
But Adamson did deny it.

But Pat’s fought back with steely grit
And strong determination,
And really made a match of it,
Despite intense frustration.
Creativity was what they lacked,
Whenever they in droves attacked,
But Longford soaked it up in fact
With subtle orchestration.

Half time came and half time went
And Pat’s came out, guns firing.
But Longford Town were far from spent,
Their stamina untiring.
With not one Longford man exempt,
They snuffed out every Pat’s attempt,
With consummate, controlled contempt,
With neutral fans admiring.

Then Tony Bird sky-kicked the ball,
O’Brien parried badly,
And to Dave Freeman it did fall,
Who blasted it quite gladly.
O’Brien in desperation flailed,
As Longford hearts in terror quailed,
But o’er the gaping net it sailed,
As Longford scrambled madly.

That was Patrick’s final chance
And they became frustrated,
And Fahy’s rash two-footed dance
Predictably was fated.
And down to ten, though Pats still tried,
The outcome couldn’t be denied,
As Longford got behind their side
And loudly celebrated.

Pats got a corner near the end,
And Adamson came running,
But with no Pats player to defend,
Lavine for goal went gunning.
But, with an open goal created,
Eric strangely hesitated,
Till Patrick’s right hand post frustrated
Keogh’s great skill and cunning.

But just one minute after this,
The same scene was repeated,
But this time Barrett didn’t miss,
And St. Pat’s were defeated.
And when the final whistle blew,
The tears and adulation flew,
As players into heroes grew
Once vict’ry was completed.

Pats’ expressions were so pained,
And Longford’s so euphoric.
The red and black were unrestrained,
Delight so meteoric.
And Alan Matthews drank it in,
With but a slight dishevelled grin,
Though well he knew the Longford win
Was marvellously historic.

[John83]

Well done to Longford. Kirby was excellent - I was amazed to see him subbed, and Barrett was very lively.

The sending off was stupid. Can't remember who it was, but I hope he got a roasting afterwards - he cost Pats any chance they had.

[James]

excellent poem there from Peter Goulding
a regular feature over on soccercentral.ie (http://www.soccercentral.ie/viewstory.asp?id=11238&mainheading=eircomonly1&viewstory=yes)

[Éanna]

Originally posted by Dr.Nightdub
Mind you, none of that will stop them looking for eL fans to create an atmosphere next time Ireland are playing. They simply don't deserve us. :rolleyes:
you're spot on in that regard as far asI'm concerned